History of Bell Helicopters
Bell Helicopters are seen all over the world. They are used by corporations, private individuals, and the United States military. The company did not start up looking to make helicopters, but a change in corporate philosophy just before the start of World War II set Bell down a path that has seen them become a recognized industry leader in helicopter manufacturing.
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History
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Bell Helicopter was originally founded as Bell Aircraft in the summer of 1935 by engineer Larry Bell. He intended it as a company to design and build aircraft for the military. Immediately before the entry of the United States into World War II in 1941, Bell and his team began developing a helicopter that was inspired by the work of Arthur Middleton Young. By the time the United States had entered the war in 1942, Bell changed his company to Bell Helicopter and began development on their new helicopter design.
Significance
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Bell Helicopter was the first company in United States history to obtain the proper certifications for designing and selling commercial helicopters. Since it first began designing helicopters in 1941, Bell Helicopter has built and delivered almost 40,000 units to various customers located all over the world.
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Types
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Currently Bell Helicopter offers many different helicopter models. In the commercial arena these range from the single engine economy model Bell 206-B3, all the way up to the luxurious twin engine Bell 430. The Bell 430 is considered Bell's higher end workhorse model, and it even comes in a Homeland Security model designed specifically for the needs of the Department of Homeland Security.
Geography
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The original Bell Helicopter designs were created and manufactured in a plant located in Buffalo, New York. As the company has developed and changed, including becoming part of the Textron Corporation, the large facility in Buffalo has been closed and stands empty today. The company is currently headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Time Frame
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The first successful test flight of a Bell helicopter was made on December 29, 1942. The original main rotor blade was 32 feet in length, and the original fuselage was made partly out of wooden beams.
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